Nigeria: Car Bomb Explosion Kills Dozens

A car bomb explosion in Maiduguri exploded Tuesday, causing dozens of deaths witnesses report. Militant group Boko Haram is being blamed for the act of violence, as well as a series of previous bombings in the region.

The attack on July 1 struck a marketplace at approximately 8 a.m. Thankfully, the market had just opened and was not yet busy. Attackers had concealed the bombs under a load of charcoal in a vehicle. Witnesses estimate seeing about 50 bodies after the impact, but authorities fear the death toll could grow.

This attack follows explosions at a mall in Abuja which killed 24 people last week. Boko Haram is believed to have facilitated numerous other deadly attacks since the kidnapping of over 200 school girls in Chibok village.

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan had spoken against Boko Haram previously, but has not been able to stop the violence. The United Nations had criticized Jonathan for failing to protect Nigerian citizens reports the Associated Press. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said that the U.N. “reiterates the readiness of the United Nations to support Nigeria as it responds to this challenge in a manner consistent with its international human rights obligations.”